GRAPPENHALL reached the final of the under 17s Cheshire Cup final where they entertained New Brighton on home turf.
New Brighton got off to a flying start, but Grappenhall slowed the run rate down with some tight bowling from Josh Hayes, 3 for 26 off four overs, and Cole Higham, 1 for 16 off three overs.
This was backed up by two great catches from Ben Bravington.
New Brighton scored 174 for 7 off their 20 overs.
Grappenhall’s openers, James Jenkinson, 28, and James Rooney, 17, got off to a good start scoring freely and pushing the New Brighton fielders to the boundary, where they chose to stay for the next 16 overs.
This field made scoring difficult for Grappers and wickets started to fall until Arron McCabe, 41 retired, who was also voted Grappers' man of the match by the umpires, and Will Metcalfe, 19, came in and pushed the scoring along.
But it wasn't to be as Grappers fell 24 short off their target, Francis Young bravely going into bat at the end even though he had dislocated his thumb, scoring 151 for 9 in a closely contested final.
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